Wrapping machine



Oct. 5, 1937. E. L. SMITH Er AL WRAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1, 1935 Oct. 5, 1937. E. L. sMlTH ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed oct. 1, 1935 4 sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 5,- 1937. E. SMITH ET Ag. 2,095,104

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed oct. i, 19,55 4 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR YQ/fm aria ff/M 41m BY C11/MTM IVE-rsa 9a ATTORNEYS Oct. 5, 1937.

E. L. SMITH ET AL WRAPPING'MACHINE u. Filed Oct. 1, 19,35 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENToR Einf/ Loria LS///,f Am

CARLo/r Mirar/ *M ATTORNEYS Patented our. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,095,104v I waarmee moms PATENT ori-'ICE Applicaties october 1, 1935,- 'sensi 11v Claims.

This invention relates to machines for wrathv ping articles of generally rectangular shape. One object is to improve prior wrapping machines, particularly those of the type adjustable from one size of article to. another, in the matter of simplicity of construction and economy of operation. A further object is to improve the manner of holding they article in the folding box during the process of completing the circumfer- V ential wrapping and the initiation of the end jects will appear from the following description and claims. O Referring to:` the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine embodying the invention, generally inmedian section;

Fig. 2 is a section through the machine showing the mechanism for feeding the wrapping ma.-

terial'Tto position for engagement by the ar- 30 ticle;

Fig 3 is a top plan detail of the mechanism for applying a sealing liquid to' the end flaps of.l

the partially wrapped package;

Fig. 4 is a detail ofthe adjustable cam mech- L anism for regulating the termination of the wrapper feeding operation;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the paper feed;

Fig. 6 is a detail of one of the paper supporting and feeding rolls;

Fig. '7 is a detail 'of the means for supporting the article within the folding box;

Fig. 8 is a detail in side elevation of the paper feedingl roll shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a detail showing the manner in which the movable paper feeding rolls are actuated;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation showing the parts of the paper feeding mechanism in the positions they occupy during the feeding of the paper;

Fig. 11 is a similar view-showing the same parts of the wrapper feeding operation;

Fig. 12 is a detail of the rear bottom folder and the rear side tucker in' a different position of operation than that shown in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 are diagrammatic views into position in the folding box. Additional obin the positions they occupy after the'termination Y No. 43,088 (CL-"ss-ai I showing the progress ofl an article through the l folding 'box'. j f v v Fig; l1'7 is .a detail sectional view showing the wrapping material .means therefor.

'I'he machine is'fcarrled upon a base frame 20 'which inv-this caseisy the main frame for 'the pa`perfeeding mechanism.V A subsidiaryframe 2l is carried by thiszmain frame for the purpose of, supporting the wrapping mechanismv proper, and bears at one end a plate '22 over which passes an article feeding belt 23.,l 'I'his belt isdriven at one end by a pulley v2l suitably driven, preferably continuously, and is suppported at its other end by an idler pulley which has been omitted from the drawings. Adjacent -the pulley 24, and vertically spaced above the be1t,is 'a plate vsupply roll and a tensioning adapted to ride onthe tops of the articles be,- ing fed in,` and having avertical Vextension 26 :serving as one side of an elevator well or article guiding chute. The plate 25 is preferably mounted on a member 21 laterally adjustable so as to change the position of the platev25-and also of certain parts of the wrapper feed in order to accommodate diilerent sizes of article. A second plate 28 is fixed on the frame to form the opposite side of the elevator well. Vertically movable in the elevator well is an elevator 29 having a depending skirt portion 30 acting when.

the elevator is up to preventforward movement of the articles on the belt 23in the well known manner. The elevator is carried on a bar 3| reciprocable in guides 32 and is operated by a link 33 pivoted to a bell crank lever 34 which derives its motion by means of a link 35 from a crank 36 on a constantly rotating shaft 43l. vWith the parts proportioned substantially as shown, the described linkage will give to the elevator a rapid up and down motion with a substantial dwell at its lower limit of motion.

As the article a is carried upwardly by the elevator it encounters the wrapper w (Figs. 13 to 16) and is then brought between a spring plate Ml and a xed plate 4l. The spring plate 40, which is carried by a laterally adjustable bar 42, is formed with a Wide bottom portion and with a generally T-shaped and relatively narrow upper portion as is best seen in Fig. 7. The lower wide portion is pressed towards the plate 4| by springs 43 and the bar of the T is similarly pressed. by a spring M. The .strengths of these springs are so adjusted that the pressure of each of the springs 43, which are equal, is' somewhat less than the pressure of the single top spring so that the pressure on the article will be roughly balanced. On the oppo- Cil site side of the elevator well from theT-shaped member 40 and situated in a slot of the ilxed member Il is a ,dapper II rotatably mounted against the force of a torsion spring 4 1 (Fig. 2). The fiapper preferably has an article retaining notch ,48 (Fig. l13) formed in itssurfaoe, and is adapted to be turned by the passage of the article out of the folding box so that it underlies the article in the manner usual for flappers of this general character. In this rotated position the dapper passes into a slot 49 in the floor Il of the folding channel.

'The operation of this portion of the mechanism will be most clearly understood from the diagrammatic views shown in Figs. 13 to 16. In Fig. 13 the article is shown as just engaging the ilapper after having picked up the wrapper. The article rests against the members 40 and 4I and the wrapper is tightly drawn around the top oi' the article and down upon its sides. The spring mounting of the member Ill is sufficiently flexible to accommodate slight changes in the widths of the articles, and also serves to store up enough energy due to the compression ofthe vspring to cause a small lateral movement of the article at a later time as will be described below. In Fig. 14 vthe elevator has carrie'd the article to the uppermost limit of its motion. In this position the lower right hand edge of the article (as viewed in that gure)` has passed above the shoulder 48 in the dapper, so that the spring vtension of the dapper can carry this`shoulder into' underlying relation to the article. TheA elevator is made narrower than the article so that this slight motion of the fiapperis not interfered with. The article is now grasped between the top of the flapper and the T-shaped top of the member 40, with one edge supported underneath by the shoulder 48. Furthermore, the article will be shifted slightly by the recoil of spring M assoon as the article passes plate 4 I vso that its right hand edge as viewed in Fig. 14 will move. a small amount onto the floor 50 of the delivery channel. The elevator can now recede without waiting for the support of the article to be taken over by the bottom folder as is customary in devices of this character. This simplifies the linkage necessary to produce the motion of the elevator, as no dwell at all is necessary at the upper limit of the motion.

The article is carried out of the folding box into the folding channel by a pusher (Figs. 1 and i2) having a detachable connection 5S with a car- :sier 51. This carrier moves back and forth. upon a rod 58 (Fig. 2) and has an upper guiding piece 59 which slides between, guide bars Bil, the slide rod and the guide bars being carried on a framework 6| supportedr from the main frame by a bracket 62. The carrier is periodically reciprocated by a link 63 pivoted to a bell crank lever l64 mounted for rocking movement on the frame and itself actuated by a link 65 coupled to a crankBB on the shaft of the pulley 24. The carrier, the pusher carried by it, and other connected parts, receive one complete reciprocation for each cycle of the machines operation.' The rear tuckers'61 (Fig. 12) arel preferably made integral with lthe pusher 55, the pusher being made detachable as described so that the tuckers'may be replaced with others of the correct width and spacing if the size of the article is to be changed. A top hold-down plate 10 is carried by a bracket 1l secured by an adjustable screw and slot connection 12 (Fig. 1) from the carrier 51. This plate rests upon the article at all times while it is in the folding box,

v8l Aand 92.

and inovs with it it iii-being pusher into the, folding channel.

A second carrier 13 is slidable upon the same guide members as carrier l1 and bears a rear bottom folder 14. This-second carrier is not directly operated by the link Si. but receives its motion from it in a modified form. For this purpose the carrier 13 is provided with a link 15 to which is pivoted one arm of a bell crank lever 19 'itself pivoted. at 11 to the carrier 51. The second arm of the bell crank carries a cam roll 1B running in a cam slot 19 formed in a plate which forms one side of the framework. supporting the 'guides on which the carriers slide. The two extreme positions of lthe carrier and the bottom folder carried by vit are shown in Figs. 1 and 12. As the pusher carrier l1 advances, the bottom folder will at first move at a faster rate on account of the upward curvature ofthe cam slot, moving for a short time atthe same rate as the pusher whenV the. slot becomes horizontal, and finally slowing down with respect to the carrier.4 This constructio permits the bottom folder to pass under the article rapidly, as will' appear from comparison of Figs. 15' and 18; and then to dwell as shown by a comparison of Figs. '16 and 12 while the article is being pushed on onto the bottom plate 50 of the folding channel. The differential motion between the pusher Aand the bottom folder is accomplished -by the use of a simple linkage, with only one rotating crank; and does not require that the bottom folder be ames by the..

spring mounted and stopped by contact with lthe folding channel it is preferred to make theV upper part of this channel readily removable so that the whole may be taken off the machine and replaced by one suited to the particular new article to be wrapped. This has proved in practice to be more satisfactory, particularly as it avoids danger of an unskilled operator making an incorrect adjustment of the parts. Topermit the channel to be taken off; the bottom plate 50 previousiy referred to is provided at one end with lugs B5 (Fig. l) adapted to interfit with pieces carried by a cross bar 8B, and at the other end with dowel pins B1. The plate may be positively fastened down if desired, but in'actual practice this hasy been found to be unnecessary. The other members of the removable chute are a top plate 88, held in position relative to the bottom plate by springs 88, and the usual plow folders 90, 'Ihe folder 9i is cut away at 93 to avoid contact with the glue applied as described below to the outside of the lower flap.

Glue or other sealing liquid is applied to the underside of the lower end flap of the package by a pair of spaced glue rolls (Figs. l and 3) mounted to rotate in troughs 96 and driven con-l ily to place a. stripe of sealing liquid, which may be either glue or a solvent for one of the cellulose sheetings now commonly used as wrapping materials, at thedesired point on the outside of the lower end iiap of any package within the limits of adjustment of the machine. By applying this y stripeto the lower iiap which is always in line with the floor of the delivery channel, all necessity for vertical adjustment of the gluingmechanism is avoided. As stated above, the glue rolls also have an adjustment longitudinally of the folding channel, the purpose of which maybe slightly more obscure since the rolls will apply a stripe of glue to the wrappers whatever their longitudinal position. In practice, however, it has been found that particularly when dealing with the vcellulose sheeting type of wrapping material in which sealing of the flaps is` accomplished by coating them with a solvent, it is deleterious to leave the flap too long in contact with the solvent applying device; and even when glue is being applied a better coating will result if the article and applying wheel are moving at the same rate during the entire application of the sealing liquid. Now it will be remembered that the articles are A advanced into the folding channel from the fold? ing box by the reciprocatingV plunger 55. No additional mechanism is in the present case supplied for advancing the articles further along the 30 folding channel, an article being carried along solely' by the pressure of the articles behind it.

Every article in the line therefore advances in' termittently, and since the width of the articles is a constant quantity fOr any one size being wrapped each successive article will come to rest in the same place as its predecessor. In order to avoid the flaps remaining in contact with the glue rolls after the ap has been coated, these rolls are adjusted for any particular size of article 40. so that they lie between the article flaps, as is clearly apparent in Fig.l 3. when the line oi articles has been brought to rest. For different articles the position of the gap between the .flaps will of course be dlierent, and hence it is neces'- sary to provide a longitudinal adjustment for the applying rolls. For this purpose, as is best seen in Fig. 1, the bar 99 which carries both of the troughs, is borne ona bracket |00 slidable onthe rails 2| forming the wrapping machine frame. A. bolt |0|, provided with the usual tightening nut, also passes through one of a series of holes |03 in the rail. An adjustment of'considerable magnitude is accomplished by moving the bracket and bolt along the rail to another of the holes |03. An adjustment of small magnitude, used to give the nal setting to the rolls, is accomplished by loosening the tightening nut on the bolt and sliding the bracket |00 along within the limits permitted by the slot |02.

60 'I'he mechanism for feeding the web of wrapping material and for severing Wrappers of the proper length from it will next be considered. The wrapping material is initially supplied to the machine on a spool |05 (Figs. 2 and 1'7) from with the usual equalizing rack and pinion connection |01 and drawn in a' direction to take up the slack in the web by a spring |08. 'Ihe web next -comes into engagement with altematig wires |09 and ||0 which corrugate the material slightly in order to increase its rigidity when pushed through the cutting mechanism, these wires lying between cork rolls geared to and resting on a steel roll ||2 (Figs. 2 and 5). A

i which it passes over a tension roll |06 provided change gear ||3 connects a gear on the shaft of the roll ||2 with a gear H4 on a shaft ||5 conveniently driven as by a chain and sprocket connection from the'shaft 31 previously referred to.

'The rolls and ||2 are preferably continuously driven and project the corrugated web across a support ||6 and over a block Hll'bearing a'sta' tionary knife blade ||8.` Cooperating with this stationary knife is a rotatable knife ||9 carried by a rotating shaft |20 driven from the gear ||4 by a gear ,l 2 'Ihis shaft preferably carries disk like paper guiding fins |22 which serve to keep the leading end of the freshly severed web from following the rotating knife. 'I'his much of the web handling mechanism is largely conventional and need not be considered in more detail.

The mechanism for feeding the severed sheets forwardly into thev wrapping means is in some respects similar to that shown in the Fischer and Fuller Patent 1,927,585, Sept. 19, 1933, but is l simpler in construction and has certain operational advantages. Extending from the cutting rolls to and past the folding box are a pair of laterally spaced belts |25 -adapted to contact with the upper side of the severed wrapper. Each of these belts passes around a set of pulleys |25, |21,

` |28 and |29, one set being shown in Fig. 10. Although the pulleys themselves do not appear in Fig. 1 i it will be apparent from the position of the belts |25 in that figure that one set of pulleys is associated with and mounted on the stationary cross bar 86 and the other set is associated with and mounted on the adjustable cross bar 42 which is held in adjusted position by a bolt and slot connection |30 with the frame. Each ofthese bars has a plate 3| which extends between the adjacent runs of the respective belt and both prevents friction and gives a support. The shaft v of the pulleys |25 is driven by a gear |32 from the gear |2|, that pulley |20 located on the movable cross bar having a splined connection with the shaftso'that it will be driven'positively in any position of adjustment.

The belts travel continuously,and the paper feed is secured by pressing the leading end of the web or the severed sheet upwardly against the belt as in the Fischer and Fuller patent.A The mechanism for accomplishing this is, however, radically different, and is .divided into two parts, one .being permanently engaged with the wrapping material and the other being vertically movable lso, that the feeding action can be terminated and keeping it taut during the cutting action.

AAs soon as the sheet is' severed from the web it partakes of the higher speed of the belts, running away from the leading end of the web from which it was-cut'and producing the desired spacing between successively delivered sheets.

'I'he part of the wrapper engaging mechanism permanently in pressing engagement with the belts consists in a pair of separated roll bearing kframes (Fig. l0), supported at their ends on brackets |36 andl |31 mounted on rods |30 and |39. One of each similar p'air of brackets is fixed in lateral position so as to remain in xed relation to the cross bar 86, while the other is adjustable on its supporting rod to permit it to be shifted for different widths of paper. A's is best shown in Figs. 6 and 8 the rolls |40 are separately mounted on arms |4I pivoted on pins v The belts being on top only are not liable. to con.-v

|42 secured in the frame. Each arm has a projection |43 engaging a tie member |44 to limit the angular motionvof the arm, andlis pressed in a direction to carry the roll against the belt by a spring |45. As will be clear from Figs. and 11, the rolls extend only part way along the frames, the remainder of the frames being formed withbuttress-like teeth |46 which pre- V vent smearing of the longitudinal stripe of glue when the paper is drawn into the folding box,

and which by reason of their shape oifer slight resistance to theforward motion of the sheet.

tact with the glue.

'Ihe frames |50 which form the intermittent part of the wrapper engaging mechanism are mounted in the space within the spaced members of the frames |vas is best shown in Fig. 9. These second frames are carriedat one end by.levers |5| (Fig. 10) rotatively fixed to the rods |38 and at the other end by levers |52 rotatively fixed to the rods |39. By rocking the rod |33 .the frames |56 willbe caused to move up and down with a parallel movement; the

vframes |35 whichare rigid with their brackets |36 and |31, being -unaiected by this motion since these brackets are free on their supporting rods. The frames |53 carry rollers |53 mounted similarly to the rolls |40 except that they are located further along the frames, coming adjacent that part of the frames |35 which is fitted with the teeth |46. frames |53 periodically the rod |30 is provided with an arm |55 (Fig. 4) attached at one end by a spring |56 to the frame and bearing at the other a cam roll |51. This cam roll bears against a cam |53 secured to the shaft ||5 by an` adjustable clamp |53. The cam and the shaft canl be readily provided with a scale and a pointer respectively, so that thel position of angular adjustment caneasily be determined. Rotation of the cam relative to the shaft serves to vary` the time at which the frame |50 is lowered and hence determines. the time at'which the feeding motion of the severed wrapper towards wrapping position is terminated. The time at whichthe frame is raised will, of course, also be varied by rotating the cam, but this is unimportant as the elevation of the frame occurs at a timeY when the sheet is still being advanced by the fixed y rollers |40.

It may be advantageous to summarize briefly the operation ofthe wrapper feeding mechanism. As the leading end of the web is projected past the cutting mechanism by the pushing action of the/rollsv and I2 it will enter between the belts |25 and the first of the series of fixed rolls |40. Since the belts are traveling faster than the rolls ||2, slippagewill occur, drawing the webltaut for the cutting operation. As soon as the cutters have acted, the severed sheet which now is well within the grasp of the belt and the xed rolls, will start to advance atthe speed withA which the belt is moving, At somewhat the same period the vertically movable rolls rise, furnishing acontinuous guide .f or pressing the wrapper against the belts throughout the lengths of the frames. Forward Amotion of the wrapper' at the speed of the belts continues until the frame |50 is lowered by the action of cam |58. The wrapper descends with the rolls |53, which are driven i only by contact with the belt, and rests upon these rolls and upon the teeth |46 of the frames |35. At the same time the forward end of the Toelevate and depress the.

wrapper contacts with a paper stop |60 (Fig. 2) which is adjustably mounted so' as`to be adaptable for different lengths of wrapper. The wrapl' per rests in this position until it is contacted by the article a being raised by the elevator 29 through 'the well formed by the plates 26 and 20 and the end guides |6| (Fig. 10) Additional guides for the wrapper, similar to the toothed end of the frames |35, can be located on either side of the elevator well if desirable in or'der to maintain extra large wrappers in flat condition.v If it is desired to provide the wrapper with a stripe of sealing liquid along a longitudinal margin during its passage into the machine, this can be done by a wheel |65 (Fig. ;2) dipping into a trough |66 i and laterally adjustable in a bar |61. The wheel is positively driven by a chain connection I 6 6 from the shaft of gear |32.

What we claim is:

1. A Vwrapping machine comprising a Afolding box, an elevator for raising an article and a wrapper into the folding-box, a plate on one side of the folding box, a spring pressed plate on the op: posite side of the folding box having a vertical extension, a delivery channel adjacent the box,

2. A wrapping machine comprising a folding box, an elevator for raising an article and a wrapper into the folding box, a plateonone side of thefolding box, a spring pressed plate on the opposite lside of the folding box having a vertical extension, a shouldered spring pressed member rotatably mounted onthe first side of the box,

the shoulder on said member being adapted to underlie the article when the articlek is in-position in the folding box, a delivery channel adjacent the box, and a. bottom folder constructed in sections to straddle the vertical extensionof the spring pressed plate, thev spring pressed plate being compressed by the article as the article enters the folding box and acting to force the article slightly onto the floor of the delivery channel when the article has come into complete alignment therewith, whereby the elevator may immediately return to its lowered position without the article dropping and without waiting for the bottom. folder to assume the weight of the article.

3. A wrapping machine comprising a folding channel having a. floor, a removable structure including end flap folders, and sealing liquid applying devices mounted to engage the outside of the lower end flaps on a line with the floor, whereby different sizes of articles may be accommodated without the necessity of vertical adjustment of the sealing liquid applying device.Y

4. A wrapping machine comprising a folding channel having a floor, a removable structure including end flap folders detachably mounted above said floor, means for advancing partially wrapped articles intermittently along said channel, a pair of sealing liquid `applying devices` mountedto engage the outside of the lower end flaps on a line with the floor, whereby the removable structure may be replaced to accommoit, a pusher for ejecting the article from' the fold-- ing box, ajslidable folder carriage, a lever pivoted Aboundaries of the folding box.'

Y l 2,095,104 date different sizes o f articles `without the neces--v sity of vertical adjustment of the sealing liquid applying devices, means for adjusting said devices an article with a Wrapper' partially folded around it', a pusher for ejecting the articlefrom the folding'box, a' folder connected to the pusher for motion therewith, and means for imparting to the folder a motion initially faster than'the pusher and subsequently. decelerating with respect thereto. x Y

6. A wrapping machine comprising a folding box, meansfor introducing into the folding box an article with a wrapper partially folded around it, a pusher for ejecting the .article from the folding box,'a folder', and a positive linkage vconnecting the pusher and the folder and operableto cause the folder to contact the wrapper before the pusher contacts the' article', and subsequently to decelerate the` folder with respectv to the pusher to permit the 'pusher to clear the article from the folding box While the folder remains Withinv the 7. A Wrapping machine comprising a folding box, means for introducing'into the .folding box an article with' a wrapper partially folded around it, a pusher for ejecting the article from the folding box, a folder, a positive linkage connecting the pusher and the folder and including a lever pivoted both to the pusher and to the folder, and a stationary cam engaging said lever to vary the position of the folder relative to the pusher ast thepusher advances in its article ejecting motion.

8. A wrapping machine comprising a folding box, means for introducingl into the folding box an article with a wrapper partially folded around tothe pusher and tou-the folder'carriage, a stationary camplate engaging a roll on the lever,

and a folder'carried by thelcarriag'e.

9. A wrapping machine comprising a folding box, means for introducing into the folding box an article with a wrapperpartially folded around it, a slidable pusher for ejecting the article 4from the 'folding box, a 'slidable folder carriage, a bell the pusher and at one end tothe folder carriage, a stationary cam plate having a cam groove there.- in, a cam on the second end of the bell crank y lever, and a folder 'on said folder carriage, the cam plate being so shaped as to permit the folder Vto contact the wrapper before the pusher contacts the article, and subsequently to decelerate' the folder with respect to the pusher to permit 'the pusher to clear the article from .the .folding boxfwhile the folder remains within the boundaries ofr the folding box. Y

10. A wrapping machine comprising a folding box, an elevator for raising an article and a Wrapper into the folding box, aspring-,pressed plate on one side of the folding box, a shouldered spring-pressed member rotatably mounted on the opposite side of the box, the shoulder on said member being adapted to underlie the article when the article is in position in the folding box, anda delivery Vchannel adjacent vthe box, the spring-pressed plate being compressed by the crank leverpivoted at its intermediate pivot to article as the article enters the folding box and Y acting to force the article slightly onto the o'or of the delivery channel, against' the action of the shouldered member when the article has come into complete alignment with thechannel. Y

11. A wrapping machine comprising a folding channel, means for' advancing partiallywrapped articles intermittently along said channel, and a sealing liquid applying device positioned to engage and disengage an outstanding end ap of" an article as the latter moves from one position of rest to the succeeding rest position, said flap: l

being wholly out of contact with said' device at the rest positions.

ErmRfLovELL SMITH.

CARLTON WETSEE. 

